"The Viola da gamba-föreningen is a newly formed society with the aim of building and sustaining a network between people interested in the viola da gamba and the music written for it. Amongst other things, the society wants to help organise playing situations, promote new music for the viol, give information about concerts and courses, and also to act as a forum at which viol topics can be discussed.

Our membership comprises of 90 members from Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland. Amongst them are professional players, amateurs, viol makers, bow makers and those who simply love the instrument’s sound. ..." Visit website for more information. (ed.)

"Seviqc Brežice is an abbreviation of the newly-coined phrase Semper Viva Quam Creata – roughly translated as Always alive as at the moment of creation. ...

The following are our principle objectives: to maintain an international programme featuring high-quality artistry in historic settings; to built the positive reputation of Slovenia on the international cultural and tourist map; to connect Slovenian artists with the international scene; to support and promote young talent; to facilitate the break-through of Slovenian composers in Europe and beyond; to encourage the development of tourism and build an effective cultural infrastructure; to stimulate and promote cross-cultural dialogue and musical exchange of European and non-European cultures; to develop innovation and creativity; to provide better access and encourage greater participation in cultural activities; and finally to make a substantial contribution to Slovenian and European culture. ... " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

BMEMF brings together listeners and performers, instrument makers and players, dancers, singers, teachers and pupils, amateurs and professionals throughout the Border Marches and the adjoining Welsh and English counties.

BMEMF organises regular day workshops covering a wide span of interests and levels of ability. These are run by specialist tutors and are open to both members and non-members.

BMEMF publishes a quarterly newsletter with news and reviews, articles, letters, trade display and members’ advertisements, details of forthcoming workshops and a concert diary for the region and beyond. " ...

" The
British Clavichord Society encourages the understanding and enjoyment
of the clavichord. It promotes recitals, workshops and lectures
o­n the history, construction and repertoire of the instrument.
Our Newsletter, published three times a year,
offers interesting and informative articles, reviews of recitals,
conferences, books and recordings, and news of events in Britain and
other European countries. Members also have the option to subscribe
through the BCS to the journal Clavichord International,
published twice yearly by the Dutch Clavichord Society; and they
receive a discount o­n tickets for our events and a free copy
of our newly republished International Clavichord Directory.
We are preparing a series of publications (including clavichord music
and a clavichord tutor) and already have a well-stocked mail-order shop
for books, music and CDs - this is open to non-members too. " ...

"The British Harpsichord Society promotes the awareness, enjoyment, study, performance and ownership of harpsichords and related plucked keyboard instruments in Britain. Our aim is to create more public awareness and get more people enjoying and playing the harpsichord. " See website for more information. (ed.)

"It is due to the vision of its founder, the Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII, that the Royal College of Music owns a celebrated instrument collection as well as manuscripts, rare printed music and portraits of musicians. As he stated in his inaugural speech on 28 February 1882: ‘A school giving the best instruction … is but a branch of what I desire to found. I wish to establish an institution having a wider basis and a more extended influence than any existing school or college of music in this country ... It will be to England what the Berlin Conservatoire is to Germany, what the Paris Conservatoire is to France, or the Vienna Conservatoire to Austria–the recognised centre and head of the musical world.’ " ...

"Since 1992 the Early Music Forum of Scotland has been bringing together players, singers, dancers, makers and listeners from all over Scotland. It runs and sponsors courses and playing days for its members, run by leading professionals.

EMFS members receive an annual membership list, with details of each member's interests, and lists of names classified by activities. This is a useful way of making contact with other people of similar interests. In addition, the membership secretary and other members of the committee are always delighted to help members make useful contacts.

EMFS members receive a regular newsletter with details of early music events in Scotland, participatory events elsewhere, regular reviews of early music CDs and occasional articles.

Each year EMFS organises a Museum Weekend, two days of continuous music-making by early music groups from all over Scotland. Most often held in the National Museum of Scotland, but also on occasion in the Burrell Collection in Glasgow, it gives the general public a chance to sample a wide variety of early music and gives the players a chance to meet fellow enthusiasts.

EMFS is also part of the network of Early Music Fora which covers the whole of the British Isles. Members of EMFS can participate in the activities of the other Fora and advertise in their Newsletters, normally at reduced rates. " See website for more information. (ed.)

"The Early Music Network is an Arts Council funded organisation whose purpose is to promote the performance of early music within the UK. It exists to bring about more professional historically informed performances of early music than would otherwise take place, and to develop a wider audience for such music. The Network also creates opportunities for outstanding young ensembles. " ...

"Early Music West Midlands is a consortium of promoters and performers committed to supporting and advocating medieval, baroque and early classical music, particularly through historically authentic performance.

EMWM produces a regular diary of events with details of performances and workshops throughout the region. We also offer advice and support to local music promoters and work to increase audiences for early music, through our mailing list promotions, and presenting performances at events such as ArtsFest in Birmingham. We are also working on education projects to introduce children and young people to early music. " ...

"The Eastern Early Music Forum organises Early Music workshops in East Anglia.
Anyone is welcome to join; the annual subscription is £6 or £9 for families. Members receive a quarterly newsletter and reduced admission fees for Forum events, and those of other regional fora in the United Kingdom. " See website for more information. (ed.)

"The Society was formed in October 1946 for the publication of original research into the history, construction, development and use of musical instruments. Its name commemorates the pioneer work of Canon Francis W. Galpin (1858-1945) who had spent a lifetime in the practical study of old instruments, in collecting them and recording their history.

The first President of the Society was Professor J.A. Westrup, with the following as Vice-Presidents: Mrs Arnold Dolmetsch, Dr Rosamund E.M. Harding, Walter F.H. Blandford, Adam Carse and Christopher J. Galpin.

While the initial focus was on European instruments, the need to encompass `musical instruments of all kinds was soon recognised. The Galpin Society has succeeded over the years in catering for an ever-widening range of interests within the fold of organology, as well as stimulating inter-disciplinary collaboration and the fruitful exchange of ideas. Moreover, the geographical coverage of the Society's membership list has kept on spreading: no fewer than thirty-nine countries are now represented. " See website for more information. (ed.)

" ... IBS membership includes musicologists, instrument makers and performers. The Society assembles and disseminates information, and organises events designed to bring the baryton to a wider audience.

The Society has organised three international conferences, held in London and Austria. In 1998, they organised a series of concerts and a conference at the palaces of Eisenstadt and Esterhàza, using the very rooms in which Haydn would have heard his baryton music performed by Prince Nicholas Esterhàzy. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

“The International Shakespeare Association (ISA) offers an opportunity for individuals and institutions to join together to further the knowledge of Shakespeare throughout the world. Its central commitments, outlined in its constitution, are to link the work of various Shakespeare associations and societies and to advise on the foundation and development of new associations; to advise on the initiation and planning of the World Shakespeare Congresses; to support an information centre, covering research, publication, translation, and performance; to circulate a diary of future performances, conferences and graduate courses; to aid travel in the interests of Shakespeare scholarship and performance and to coordinate and support requests for finance from internationally cooperative projects.”

“We come together to discuss the life, times and works of the author, to visit places important in her life; sometimes to dress in Regency finery, and to perform her music and dances! We meet or go on expeditions every couple of months, the meetings normally in North Oxford.

The Austen family had links to the city and University of Oxford: we are engaging in research to find out more about Jane's schooling here, and the family's association with Brasenose and St John's College. The group was founded in October 2009 as Oxford's first and only Jane Austen Society for many decades (so far as we have been able to find out!).

We also have strong interest in the music of the period, and the historical aspects of domestic performance: Jane pulled together a large corpus of contemporary and traditional works, adding her own embellishments and arrangements for performing them at home.”

"THE LUTE SOCIETY, founded in 1956, exists to promote the lute and its music. Even if you can't make it to our meetings and recitals in London, joining the Lute Society is an excellent way of building up your music library, and of keeping in touch with news in the Lute world. We are happy to retail our publications to non-members. The Society currently has around 730 members (2006, May). " See website for more information. (ed.)

"Midlands Early Music Forum is an organisation which exists to promote all aspects of early music in the Midlands of England. It is one of a number of regional fora, which between them cover most areas of the UK. Each forum was set up by a group of enthusiasts, and each has its own aims and aspirations.

MEMF is an open forum. It brings together amateur and professional musicians, singers and dancers, researchers, teachers and pupils, instrument makers, costumiers, and enthusiasts.

"Welcome to the award-winning National Centre for Early Music - a centre of excellence for music making of all kinds - and an established conference and recording venue.

Image of the National Centre for Early Music Interior: Click to ZoomThe National Centre for Early Music, situated in St Margaret’s Church York, is the home of the internationally renowned York Early Music Festival and the Beverley and East Riding Early Music Festival. The Centre also attracts some of the world’s finest artists in the fields of jazz, folk and world music.

The National Centre for Early Music is a high-tech, modern facility based within an historical setting. It runs a year-round community and education programme and offers first-class conference and recording facilities. " (See site for various programs such as Festivals; concert series etc. ... ed.)

" The National Early Music Association of the UK has existed since 1981 to bring together all concerned with early music and to forge links with other early music organisations in the UK and around the world. NEMA also acts to represent musicians in the early music field to outside bodies, when required. " This site has quite an extensive "Links" page. See website for more details. (ed.)

"NEEMF is an association of people who enjoy early music (medieval, renaissance, baroque and early classical). If you like it too, we would be delighted if you became a member, especially if you live in our area - Yorkshire, Humberside, Durham and Northumberland. " ...

“The Society exists principally to get Scottish-based lute and early guitar players together to play to and with each other. All standards from complete beginner to professional will be encouraged to take part. This is a ‘safe place’ to try out that new piece you have been working on, ask questions, share info, etc.

Future meetings will include presentations, workshops and concerts. But the main aim is to get players together.

"Southern Early Music Forum (SEMF) exists to further the interests of early music in the area of Hampshire, Surrey, West Sussex, the Isle of Wight, East Sussex and Kent. " See website for more information. (ed.)

"TVEMF exists to encourage the singing and playing of early music in the London to Oxford area and currently has over 300 members.
TVEMF organises early music workshops and events, and publishes TAMESIS, a monthly newsletter with articles and details of early music courses, concerts and workshops." See website for more info. (ed.)